Typewriting machine



Oct. 5, 1943. B. HILL ETAL TYPEWRITING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 8, 1941 v IIWENT [1R5 7 7501! [2 MOSH/ER 137i 2 IZWZ:

I ATTORNEY Oct. 5, 1943. L. B. HILL ETAL TYPEWRITING MACHINE Filed Aug. 8, 1941 v 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Inv EMT ans LAURENCE EH11 L 1750 2 Naswsa A'r'runnzr Patented Oct. 5, 1943 TYPEWRITING MACHINE Laurence B. Hill and Edson G. Moshler, Syracuse,

N. Y., assignors to L. C. Smith &; Corona 31 writers, Inc., Syracuse, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application August 8", 1941, SerialNo. 406,016

4 Claims.

The invention relate to improvements in typewriting machines and more particularly to improvements in paper feeding mechanism for such machines. The improvements particularly relate to means for feeding webs of printed forms across the writing line of the typewriting machine for typing successive forms of the web of forms. In typing webs of forms it is highly desirable to have some means for advancin to the writing line of the machine rapidly and easily the first line of each form to be typed. It is also desirable to be able to line space individual forms for typing several lines of each individual form. For example, in typing a web of check forms, it is frequently desirable to type the name of the payee on one-line and to type on one or more successive lines the address of the payee. a

The general object of the invention is to provide simple and efficient means for typing webs of forms of the character above described and provide means for registering the leading edge of each form web introduced into the paper feed mechanism of the machine and for positioning said edge at a definite point behind the writing line of the machine.

To the foregoing and other ends which will hereinafter appear, the invention consists of the features of construction, arrangements of parts, and combinations of devices hereinafter particularly described and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings showing the preferred embodiment of the invention in connection with the well-known L C Smith typewriting machine:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary plan view of the machine with certain parts being broken away.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view approximately on the line 2-2 of Figure 3, showing more particularly the paper feed roll mechanism and the leading edge gauging and registering mechanism of the machine.

Figure 3 is a sectional view on the line 33 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a sectional view on the line 44 of Figure 1. I I

Figure 5 is a sectional view on the line 5--5 of Figure 1. l

Figure 6 is a sectional view on the line 6+6 of Figure 1.

Figure 7 is a sectional view on the line 1-1 of Figure 1 showing the sweep line-spacing mechanism operating on the platen and beginnin to turn theplaten to feed the paper.

Figure 8 is a View similar to Figure '7 showing the parts positioned as at the end of the operating stroke of the sweep line-spacing mechanism and having superimposed on the parts illustrated, in broken lines, the ratchet wheel of the standard line spacing mechanism and the ratchet detent of the standard line spacing mechanism.

Figure 9 is a detail sectional view on the line 9-9 of Figure 2 showing the paper feed rolls engaged with the platen and the leading end registering and stopping means in inoperative position. I

Figure 10 is a similar detail sectional view taken on the line llllll of Figure 2.

Figure 11 is a view similar to Figure 10 showing the paper feed rolls cast off from the platen and the leading edge stopping and registering mean in operative position.

Figure 12 is a detail sectional view on the line Figure 14 is a detail sectional view on the line I 14-14 of Figure 13.

Only as much of the known machine as is necessary to an understanding of the present invention is shown and will be described.

The machine comprises a main frame 15 upon which is mounted to travel transversely of the machine on the usual ball bearings the usual platen carriage I6. Extending across the front of the carriage l6 and aflixed to the usual end plates of the carriage, is the usual bar I1 and the usual letter space scale bar l8. On the bar I] may be mounted the usual paper fingers 19.

The shaft of the usual cylindrical platen-20 is rotatlvely journaled in the usual bearings 2| at opposite ends of the carriage, the shaft 22 of the platen extending horizontally transversely of the machine as usual. Theusual pair, of twirler knobs or finger wheels 23 are connected with the platen at opposite ends of the carriage for rotating the platen in either direction. The usual line space ratchet wheel 24 is held to the platen adjacent the left hand end of the carriage and is operable by the usual line space mechanism, settable to rotate the platen either 1, 2, or 3 tooth spaces of the ratchet 24. This ordinary or standard line space mechanism can be of any suitable construction, the construction shown being that of the L C Smith machine hereinbefore referred to. Said ordinary line spacing mechanism in the construction shown comprises generally the bell. crank line space hand lever 25 journaled on-the vertical pivot 26 on the carriage.

(not shown). The usual link 28 is pivotally connected at its opposite ends with one arm of the line space lever at 29 and its other end at 38 with the usual pawl carrier 3 I. The pawl carrier 3| is pivoted on the carriage at 32 and the line space pawl 33 is pivoted on the pawl carrier at 34. The line space pawl carries the usual pin 35 which, during the latter part of the return stroke of the line space lever, rides over the usual line space regulator 36 which is pivoted to the carriage at 31 and is settable by the usual handle 38 (Figure 1) affixed to said regulator to cause the pawl in the known manner to rotate the ratchet 24 either 1, 2, or 3 letter spaces. Said pawl has the usual arm 38 engageable with the ratchet 24 tollmit 'the operating stroke of the line space lever and prevent overthrow of ratchet 24.

The usual spring-urged detent 48 for ratchet 24 is pivoted on the carriage at 4| and is normally urged between two adjacent teeth of the ratchet by the usual ratchet detent'spring 42 (Figure 4) to hold the platen against accidental rotation.

By means of this usual line spacing mechanism the platen may be rotated by a full stroke of the line space lever either 1, 2, or 3 tooth spaces of the ratchet dependingon the adjustment of the regulator 36 as is common in the art.

Extending below the platen, and afiixed to the carriage I6 and to the bar l1 adjacent opposite ends of the platen, are two supporting brackets which are of U-shape in cross-section, the side flanges of each of which brackets 5| extend upwardly. Fixed to the flanges of this pair of brackets 5| are the ends of the usual two rods 43 and 44 which are spaced fore and aft of the machine and extend transversely thereof parallel to the axis of the platen. Adjacent opposite ends of said rod 43 are pivoted the usual two arms 45, the front ends of which support the respective ends of the usual front feed roll shaft 46 carrying the usual front feed rolls 41. Adjacent opposite ends of the rear rod 44 are pivoted the usual two arms 48, the rear ends of which support opposite ends of the usual rear feed roll shaft 49 carrying the usual rear feed rollers 58.

The usual concave paper apron or deflector 52 is supported beneath the platen in the usual manner, said apron having the usual pair of ears has the usual forwardly extending rock arm 62 which is located at the right hand end of the carriage providedat its forward end with a laterally extending pin '63 engaged in the usual cam slot 64 inthe paper feed roll cast-off lever 65. Lever 65 is journaled, as usual, on the right hand end of the carriage at 66 to swing fore and aft of the machine. The cam slot 64 .has the usual upward enlargement 64a in its upper edge adjacent the forward end of the slot to releasably' latch .the feed rolls in cast-ofl position when the handle 53 journaled on the front feed roll shaft 46, and

having the usual lug 54 supported on the usual small roller 55 mounted on the rear feed roll shaft 49. The usual two pressur springs 56, for normally urging the feed rollers toward the platen, are wrapped around the rods 43 and 44 adjacent opposite ends of said rods and each engaged adjacent its opposite ends beneath the front and rear feed roll shafts, as more clearly shown in Figure 12.

The usual feed roll cast-off mechanism for casting off the feed rolls to facilitate the insertionof paper in the machine is provided. Each of the arms 45 has the usual rearward extension 51 overlapping the usual forward extension 58 of its companion arm 48. A rock shaft 58 is journaled V end of lever 65 is drawn forward to its full limit of motion..

The paper feed rollers are contactive with the platen in their operative or "on position through clearance notches in the forward and rear edges of the paper apron .52. When the handle end of the lever 65 is swung forwardly, the tappets 6 8 engage extensions 6| of arms 48 and swing these arms to lower the rear feed rollers, thereby causing the extensions 58 of arms 48 to engage extensions 51 of arms 45 and swing the front feed rollers away from the platen. When the front and rear forward rollers are swung downwardly away from the platen, the paper apron 52 is also lowered. as will be obvious.

Also mounted on the carriage in the usual manner is the usual paper table 61 for directing the paper forwardly and downwardly between the platen and the paper apron 52. A portion of this paper table 61 is shown in Figures 1, l0, and 11.

It will be obvious that the detailed construction of the paper feed mechanism above described, which is the paper feed mechanism of the known L C Smith machine, may be varied. The new features of the machine whereby the objects of the invention hereinbefore pointed out are accomplished will now be described.

Stopping and registering means is provided for squaring the leading edge of the sheet or web of printed forms with the writing line of the machine and arresting introduction of the web into the machine at a predetermined distance to the rear of the writing line. In the machine illustrated, the writing line is indicated by the line 68 in Figure 8. In other words, the lowest positions of such characters as L, M, N, and the like impinge the platen along a horizontal line coincident with the point at which the radial line 68 intersects the periphery of the platen.

The stopping means comprises two registering stops 69 located adjacent opposite ends of the platen and extending beneath the platen. Each stop 69 is formed of a bar of thin spring steel having its forward end bent upwardly for contact with the under side of the platen when the stop is in effective position. Each stop bar 69 is adjustably fixed intermediate its ends to an axle 18 by means of a screw 1| which extends through a longitudinal slot 12 in the bar. The arm of each stop bar forward of axle 18 is movable up and down through the adjacent one of two fore-andaft extending slots 13 in the paper apron 52. Screws 1| are accessible through slots 13, when the platen is removed from its hearings, to permit each stop 69 to be adjusted fore and aft of the machine, or transversely of the platen. Each stop bar 69 is held by its anchoring screw 1| in a notch 14 (Figure 13) formed in the axle 10 of the stop bar. The longitudinal side edges of each stop bar engage the side walls of the slot in its axle to prevent accidental turning of the stop bar about the shank of the screw 1|. Each stop bar 68 extends rearwardly from its axle 18, and two tappets 15 which are fixed on the rock the rear ends of the stop bars 69 than the tappets 68 are spaced above the extensions. 8| of arms 48. It is thus possible to rock the hand lever 85 forward slightly to an extent sufficient to relieve the pressure of the paper feed rolls on the platen to permit straightening of a paper sheet in the machine without throwing the stops 69 into sheet stopping position. It will be obvious that, when the arm 65 is thrown completely forward from the position shown in Figure 3, both sets of paper feed rolls 41 and 50 will be cast off from the platen into the position shown in Figure 11 and the two stops 69 will be rocked to press their upturned forward ends yieldingly against the under side of the platen into the position shown in Figure 11.

In this position of the feed rolls and stops, the

paper sheet or web may be'introduced into the machine down over the paper table 61 and between the platen and the apron 52 until the front edge of the sheet or .web is arrested and isregistered or squared with the writing line of the machine by contact of said edge with the upturned forward ends of the stop arms 89. The lever 65 is releasably held to maintain the stops and the paper feed rolls in the position shown in Figure 11 until the lever 65 is pushed rearwardly. When the lever 55 is pushed rearwardly to its normal position shown in Figure 3, the feed rolls and paper apron are restored to normal position to press the sheet to the platen, and the forward ends of the stops 69 move downwardly through the slots 13 into the ineffective position shown in Figures 9 and 10.

To simplify the construction and mounting of the two stops 69 and facilitate assembly thereof in the machine, the axle 10 of each stop has a reduced cylindrical bearing portion 16 inserted in a circular bearing aperture in one of the upstanding flanges of the adjacent bracket and adjacent its other end each axle has a reduced cylindrical bearing portion 11 engaged in an open notch or slot 18 in the'other upstanding flange of the adjacent bracket 5|. Outwardly beyond the bearing portion 11 of each axle, theaxle is formed with a cylindrical head 19 provided adjacent the outer face of the slotted flange of bracket 5| with a kerf 80 through which extends the rear arm .of one of two springs 8|. The rear arm of each spring 8|, in the normal position of the stops 89 and feed rollers shown in Figure 9, engages the front end edge of the bottom of kerf 80 in axle 18 of the associated stop as shown in Figure 14. Each spring 8| is provided intermediate its ends with a. downward bend or bow 82 in which is seated the adjacent end of rod 44,

while the forward end of each spring 8| is engaged over the adjacent end of the rod 43. The

springs 8| thus are normally tensioned to urge each' of the stops 69 to their ineffective position It will be observed that the stops 69 will arrest also permit the operator to square the leading end of the work sheet with the writing line. 3

To permit the arrested and registered work sheet to be fed and typed on predetermined lines of a series of blank forms printed on the work sheet or web, means is provided which will now be described. ,7 I

Secured to the right hand end of the platen by means of screws 83 is a ratchet 84. The heads of screws 83 are countersunk in the ratchet. The

number of teeth of the ratchet 84 is an aliquot part of the number of teeth of the ratchet 24. .In the construction shown, the ratchet 24 has 35 teeth and the ratchet 84 has 5 teeth. The ratchet 84 is formed of a fiat circular metal disk provided with 5 notches 85 adapted to receive the nose of a suitable driving pawl hereinafter described. The five coarse teeth thus provided on the ratchet 84 have long tops 86 which are concentric with the axis of the platen from notch to notch.

To permit the platen to be rotated through the ratchet 84, a sweep line space handle 81 is provided adjacent the right hand end of the carriage. This handle has a hub 88 journaled on a bearing 89 which extends horizontally transversely of the machine and is held to the right hand end of the carriage IS. The handle 81 is normally urged into the position shown in Figures 1, 3, and 5 by means of a suitable return spring 90 which is coiled about the hub of the handle and has one end engaged with a pin 9| on the handle, its other end engaged with the adjacent end of the carriage.

At its lower end said handle is formed with a sector 92, the toothed edge of which is concentric 93 which is loosely journaled on the shaft 22 of the platen and has rigidly afilxed-to the inner end thereof a pawl carrying arm 94. The pawl carrier 94 has a shoulder 95 which, in the normal returned position of the handle 81, is seated on the top edge of the bar H on the carriage. Pivoted on the pawl carrier at 98 is a pawl 91, the nose of which is constantly urged inward toward the periphery of the ratchet 84 by means of a spring 98 anchored to the pawl and to the pawl carrier. In the normal position of the pawl carrier, the nose of the pawl 91 is held rocked against the pull of the spring 98 into the position shown in Figure .6, in which position the nose of the pawl does not contact the periphery of the ratchet 84 and can not enter any notch 85.

The pawl 91 is rocked into this position during the last part of the return movement of the pawl carrier and handle 81 by means of a lever 99 pivoted to the pawl carrier at J00. The leve'r99 has an arm engageable at one edge thereof with the bar I1 and at the other edge thereof wtlh a tail |0| of the pawl 91. The lever 99 has another arm engageable with a pin |02on the pawl carrier,\to whichpin one end of the spring 98 is also ranchoredf, During the latter part of the return motion-"of the pawl carrier 94, the lower edge of the 1eve'r99 contacts bar l1 shortly before shoulder 95 of thepawl carrier contacts that bar,

therebythrowing the pawl 91 entirely out of engagement with the ratchet before the return motion of handle 81 is arrested by engagement of shoulder 95 with bar, 1. j

After a work sheet hasbeen registered and handle 85 pushed rearward, when the handle 81 is pulled forward to the limit of its motion, the nose of pawl 91 will first engage the ratchet 84,

as shown in Figure '7, and the ratchet and the platen will thereafter be turned through three tooth spaces of ratchet 84 and twenty-one tooth spaces of the ratchet. 24, the spacing stroke of the handle 81 being limited by engagement of the back of pawl 91 with a stud I03 which is rigidly attached to the right hand end of the carriage and projects inwardly therefrom. The engagement of pawl 91 with the stud I03 not only arrests rotation of the platen, but jams the nose of the pawl tightly into that notch 85 with which the nose is engaged to thereby prevent accidental overthrow of the ratchet. The arc of rotation imparted to the platen by the three tooth-spaces advance of the ratchet 84 i sufllciently great to carry the leading edge of a sheet introduced into the machine and registered by means of the stops '9 from the stop arrested position of the sheet across the writing line of the machine a predetermined extent into position for typing upon the initial line of the first form printed on the web or sheet. Thereafter the web may be line spaced in short steps of either one, two, or three tooth spaces of the ratchet 24 by successive actuations of lever 25 of the usual line space mechanism hereinbefore described. It is possible to type as many as six single spaced lines upon each individual form with the mechanism shown.

It will be observed that, whether or not the standard line spacing mechanism is operated,-

the platen will, upon the next actuation of the handle 81, be turned only far enough to cause a total second advance of the sheet or web to an extent equal to that which the sheet was first advanced on the preceding operation of the handle 81, so that each succeeding operation of the handle 81 will bring to the writing line of the machine the first writing. line of the next succeeding form on the web.

The construction shown is particularly designed for typing the name and address of the payees of checks initially printed seriatum as a series of blank check forms on a transversely perforated paper web. It will be observed that, when such a web of blank check forms is introduced and registered in the machine through the medium of stops 69, the stops then thrown out and the paper feed rolls thrown on, and the handle 81 then pulled forwardly and released, the web is advanced far enough to present at the writing line of the machine the first writing line of the first form for typing thereon the name of the payee. The address of the payee can then be typed on the first form, such typing requiring one or more. successive operations of the line space lever 25. Thereafter, by again pulling the handle 81 forward and releasing it,

'the next form of the web will be advanced to bring it into position for typing of the name of the payee of the second check. Where the handle 26 is operated one or more times after an operation of handle 81, the nose of the pawl 81 during the initial portion of the next operation of handle 81 will ride along the arcuate top 88 of the adjacent tooth of the ratchet 84 until the nose of the pawl enters that notch 85 of ratchet 84 which has been advanced beyond the nose of the pawl by actuation of the handle 25.

Important features of the invention reside in the facts that the number of teeth of the ratchet 84 is an aliquot part oi the number of teeth of the ratchet 24, and the driving pawl 81 has an invariably fixed throw.

Another feature of the invention resides in the fact that. nonnally, both the pawl I3 and the pawl 91 are out of engagement with their respective ratchets, so that the platen may be rotated either forwardly or backwardly against the resistance of the spring detent 40 by means of either one of the finger wheels 23.

Another feature of the invention consists in making the stopping levers 69 of thin spring steel so that the up-turned sheet-arresting forward ends of said levers may be resiliently pressed against the under side of the platen by tappets of 75 code frequency modulated 25 times a minute.

We claim:

1. In a typewriting or other. machine of the kind having a rotatively journaled roller platen for backing paper to receive type impressions, a sweep line spacing mechanism for rotating the platen by a single operation through a major portion of one revolution comprising, in combination, a peripherally toothed ratchet wheel coaxial with the platen and fixedly connected therewithadjacent one end of the platen, a pinion adjacent to and coaxial with said ratchet wheel and conversely rotative relatively thereto, an arm fixedly connected at one end thereof with said pinion and extending outwardly from the axis of the pinion, a pawl pivoted on said am adjacent the opposite end of the arm on an axis parallel to that of said arm and ratchet wheel and adapted for movement into and out of driving engagement with the teeth of said wheel, a spring connected with said arm and pawl to constantly urge said pawl about its pivot in a direction to effect driving engagement of the pawl with said ratchet wheel, an operating handle pivoted for rocking thereof about an axis parallel to that of the pinion and provided adjacent to and concentric with its pivotal axis with a gear sector in mesh with said pinion, a return spring connected with said handle to urge the latter to a normal idle position, an abutment engageable by said arm to determine the normal idle position of the handle, an interponent member pivoted on said arm to swing about an axis parallel to those of the arm and pawl and engageable at opposite edges of said member with said abutment and pawl to hold the pawl out of driving engagement with the ratchet wheel while the handle is in idle position, means on said arm for limiting swinging of said member away from said pawl during strokes of the handle, and means engageable by the pawl to arrest ratchet wheel driving strokes of the pawl and simultaneously Jam said pawl against said wheel.

2. In a typewriting machine of the kind having a platen carriage and a roller platen journaled in the carriage, means for facilitating the typing of a longitudinal series of connected form blanks each of a length not exceeding the circumferential dimension of the platen comprising, in combination, two ratchet wheels coaxial with and located adjacent opposite ends of the platen and connected therewith for rotation of said wheels and platen in unison and at the same angular velocity, the number of teeth of one of said ratchet wheels being an aliquot part of the number of teeth of the other wheel, a normally disengaged driving pawl for the wheel having the larger number of teeth, a line SD: ing handle connected with said pawl for actuating the latter to rotate its associated ratchet wheel to line space the platen by ordinary short line space steps, a pinion adjacent the other ratchet wheel coaxial with and conversely rotative relatively to said wheel, an arm fixed to said pinion and extending outwardly from the axis of the latter, a driving pawl for said other ratchet wheel pivoted on said arm. on an axis parallel to that of said wheel and arm and adapted for movement into and out of driving engagement with said wheel, a spring connected with said last-mentioned pawl and arm to constantly rock the pawl toward wheel driving position, a second operating handle pivoted on the carriage adjacent said pinion for rocking about an axis parallel to that of the pinion'and provided adjacent to and concentric with its pivotal axis with a gear sector in mesh with the pinion, a return spring connected with said second handle to urge the latter to a normal idle position, an abutment on the carriage engageable by said arm to determine the idle position of said second handle, an interponent pivoted on said arm to swing about an axis parallel to those of the arm and its connected pawl and engageable at opposite edges of the interponent with said abutment and pawl to hold the pawl out of driving engagement with its associated ratchet wheel while the second handle'is in idle position, means for limit- "ing swinging of said interponent about its pivotal axis during strokes of said second handle, and a second abutment on the carriage engageable by the arm-carried pawl to arrest working strokes imparted to the latter by the second handle, the arrangement of the abutments being such that the maximum rotation impartible to the platen by the arm-carried pawl does not exceed 360 degrees and equals a plurality of ordinary line space extents of rotation impartible to the platen by anoperation of the first-mentioned handle.

3. In a typewriting machine having a platen carriage, a roller platen journaled in the carriage, and a handle operated pawl and ratchet line spacing mechanism of the normally disengaged pawl type located adjacent one end of the platen forrotating the platen by short steps for ordinary line spacing, the combination of a coarse toothed ratchet wheel coaxial with and held to the platen of the machine adjacent the opposite end of the platen from said ordinary line spacing mechanism, a second and independent handle operated pawl mechanism for driving said coarsetoothed ratchet wheel located adjacent said last-mentioned end of said platen and normally disengaged from said ratchet, the num-* ber of teeth of said coarse toothed ratchet being an aliquot part of the number of teeth of the ratchet of said ordinary line spacing mechanism, means for confining the worklngstrokes of said last-mentioned pawl mechanism to an invariable extent such that it actuates the coarse toothed ratchet to rotate the platen through not more than one revolution to an extent equal either to a predetermined number of ordinary line spaces 5 or equal to the difierence between such predetermined number of ordinary line spaces and the number of line spaces the platen may have been advancedly rotated since the last preceding operation of said pawl mechanism, means for rotating the platen at will in both directions, and detent means coactive with the teeth of the ratchet of the ordinary line spacing mechanism to yieldingly hold the platen against rotation.

' 4. In a typewr-iting machine having a platen carriage, a roller platen journaled in the carriage, and handle operated line spacing mechanism for rotating the platen by short steps ,for ordinary line spacing, the combination of a coarse toothed ratchet wheel coaxial with the platen and fixedly connected therewith adjacent one end of the platen, a pinion coaxial-with and adjacent the ratchet wheel and conversely rotative relatively thereto, an arm rotative with said pinion and extending radially of the ratchet,'a driving pawl for said ratchet wheel pivoted on said arm to swing about an axis parallel to that of the ratchet wheel, a spring connected with said arm and pawl to urge the pawl about its pivot into driving engagement with the ratchet wheel, an operating handle pivoted on the carriage for rocking thereof about an axis parallel to that of the pinion and provided with a gear sector concentric with the pivotal axis of the arm and meshing with the pinion, a return spring for said handle, an abutment on the carriage engageable by said arm to arrest return movement of the handle and pawl, an, interponent pivoted on the 'arm to swing about an axis parallel to those of the arm and pawl and 4 interposed between said abutment and pawl to hold the pawl out of engagement with the ratchet tive to rotate'the platen more than 360 degrees but rendering said pawl effective upon the second one of two immediately successive operations of said handle, without an intermediate line spacing of the platen, to rotate the platen an extent equal-t0 a plurality of ordinary line spaces.

L'AURENCE B. nnson a. MOSHIER.

strokes of the handle, and means on the carriage. 

